2006 Ford Five Hundred Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 364 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2006 Ford Five Hundred overview page.
What owners report
“WHEN YOU SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTO EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE THE CAR SURGES FORWARD VERY QUICKLY. IF YOU DON'T HOLD THE BRAKE TO THE…”NHTSA complaint 10354962 — filed 09/11/2010
“I BOUGHT MY 2006 FORD 500 USED IN 2009 AND ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTERWARDS I EXPERIENCED "LURCHING" OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I WAS SLOWING…”NHTSA complaint 10353483 — filed 09/02/2010
“ON JULY 17, 2010, MY 2006 FORD 500 BEGAN TO LURCH/SURGE FORWARD/ BACKWARD DEPENDING ON WHETHER I WAS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. TOOK THE CAR…”NHTSA complaint 10347937 — filed 08/07/2010
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2006 Ford Five Hundred have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2006 Ford Five Hundred: 71 of 364 complaints on file (19.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2006 Ford Five Hundred have in total?
364 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 20 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
